Viewers are calling the BBC period drama Outrageous 'impossible not to binge-watch' and say it is as good as The Crown, with some insisting 'everyone needs to watch' the show. The six-episode series, streaming free on BBC iPlayer, has been compared to Bridgerton and Downton Abbey by fans.
Based on the Mitford Sisters
Outrageous first aired on British television in June 2025 and is adapted from Mary S. Lovell's biography of the Mitford sisters, titled The Mitford Girls (known as The Sisters in the USA). Written for television by Sarah Williams and co-directed by Joss Agnew and Ellie Heydon, the drama charts the lives of the six headline-grabbing sisters.
The official synopsis reads: "Based on the story of the Mitford sisters, six sisters who refused to play by the rules and whose often-scandalous lives made headlines around the world. Set in the 1930s, it is a tale of betrayal, scandal, heartache and even imprisonment."
Cast and Filming Locations
The series stars Bessie Carter, Isobel Jesper Jones, Joanna Vanderham, Shannon Watson, Zoe Brough, and Orla Hill as the six sisters, with Toby Regbo, Anna Chancellor, James Purefoy, Joshua Sasse, and Jamie Blackley completing the ensemble cast. Filming took place across the UK, including at St Mary the Virgin's Church in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and Tring Park Mansion in Hertfordshire.
Critical and Audience Acclaim
Outrageous holds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic described it as "a fun romp packed with delicious 1930s fashions, illicit affairs, and sibling feuds. But it's also a harrowing chronicle of the rise of fascism in Europe." Another reviewer praised it as "a historic drama that speaks to the here and now, a serious exploration of politics that's also full of fluff, and a classic British drama that feels young and cool."
Audience reviews have been equally enthusiastic. One IMDb user wrote: "Best series I've seen in a while! I thoroughly enjoyed season 1 of Outrageous. I was hooked straight from episode one and had to binge all the rest! The actress who plays Diane (Joanna Vanderham) is especially enthralling. The storyline is very relevant for today and I think everyone should watch this show."
Another viewer commented: "Please give us another season of Outrageous! The first season was magnificent in every way. The story is compelling and made more so by the fact that it's based on a crazy but true story. The acting is superb and the filming, locations, and costumes are perfect."
Outrageous is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
